Philippines elections

What are the issues behind the polls, and who will lead the nation for the next six years?

Across the Philippines, campaign season for the presidential elections is in full swing.

On May 10, more than 50 million Filipinos will vote for a new president, with the current front-runners Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino and Senator Manuel Villar Jr.

The elections will be the country's first automated polls and brings hope to many Filipinos seeking change and economic growth after nearly one decade of Arroyo administration.

Gloria Arroyo, the current president of the Philippines, will step down after nine years in power. Her presidency has been surrounded by controversy with accusations of electoral fraud, massive corruption and human rights violations.

But the elections may also be marred by violence as heavily armed groups fight for self-rule.

Last November, 57 people were killed in the southern Maguindanao province in the Philippines' worst poll-related violence.

The Commission on Elections and the national police has identified dozens of hotspots where outbreaks of violence have traditionally occurred at poll time.

On this edition of 101 East, we look at the issues behind the Philippines 2010 elections and ask: Who will lead the nation for the next six years?

Presenter Fauziah Ibrahim is joined by guests Vergel Santos, a journalist and commentator, Butch Abad, the campaign manager to Senator "Noynoy" Aquino, the presidential candidate for the Liberal Party, and Prospero de Vera, the policy adviser to Senator Manny Villar, the presidential candidate of the Nationalist Party.

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